SC House gives districts waiver if needed

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The majority leader of the South Carolina House says the proposed budget for 2012-13 provides enough money to give school district employees statewide raises of at least 2 percent.

But Republican Rep. Kenny Bingham says the uncertainty of how the budget would impact each district separately demonstrates the need to overhaul the state’s complicated mish-mash of education funding formulas.

The House on Tuesday approved a budget amendment allowing districts to seek a waiver from the raise requirement, if they prove to the state board they lack the money because of an anomaly with the formulas.

The plan adds $153 million to the so-called base student cost, which is distributed through a 35-year-old formula that factors in districts’ property wealth and is adjusted yearly.